Door



April 17, 1934. H. l. MoRRls 1,954,825

3 INVENTOR @www ATTORNEY April 17, 1934- H. l. MORRIS v u 1,954,825

DOOR

Filed Jan. 7. 1931v 9 sheets-sheet s lNvENToR I ATTORNEY l. MORRIS April l7`, I1934.

DOOR

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DOOR,

Filed Jan. 7. 1931 9 Sheets-Sheet me". lvl-:NToR- l BY Miha/lm 1f/Jima.;

ATTORNEY April. 17', 1934.

H. l.` MORRIS v l`1,954,825

. DooR Filed Jan.. '7, 1931 ezsheets-sheef e ATTORNEY April 17, 1934, H. l. MORRIS .1,954,825

DooR l n File@ Jan. f7. 1931 9 Sheets-Sheet '7 r/ /i-7 a.

33m 23a, 32a v -AZJ- BY 21u/5.0%,-

ATTORNEY H. l. MORRIS vApril 17, 1934.

l DOOR Filed Jan. 7, 1931 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR i, .40mg

ATTORNEY H. l. MORRIS April 17, 1934.

, DOOR 9 sheets-sheet 9 Filed Jan. 7, 1931 m. www

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ATTORNEY -Patented Apr. 17, 1934 DOOR.

Howard I. Morris, -lbalxewood, Ohio, assignor to The Yoder-Morris a corporation of Ohio Company,

Cleveland, Ohio,

Application January 7, 1931, serial No.. 507,272

12 Claims.

Thisinvention relates to a. sliding door, more particularly a door of the type having hinged together panels or sections which permit the door to slide in paths at angles to each other. My in.

vention may be applied to the closing of an opening in a building, for example, the doorway of a garage.

One object of the` invention is to provide a door of this character in which cables, chains or the like and drums or pulleys therefor are eliminated and to provide an adequate but relatively simple means for counterbalancing the door in its lowered position and other positions to which it may be moved.

Another object of the invention is to provide for a sliding door an improved counterbalancing means in which provision is made, within the space required by the door, for a relatively long retractile spring capable of exerting substantially uniform counterbalancing forcev or tension on the door in its various positions while the door is moving to or from its closed position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a door of the above type having means which to and from its closed position and. for cushioning the door when moved to its full open position. f

A further object of the invention is to provide a hinged together multi-panel do'or having imsimple construction, whereby the door is readily operated.

I A further object of the invention is to provide in a door of this type improved counterbalalncing means which lends itself for installation under varying conditions.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which my invention` relates from the following description taken in connection with the `accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a View of the interior of a garage looking toward the doorway thereof and showing -a door embodying my invention in position to close the doorway, parts being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a view similar tofFig. l (with parts broken away) but showing the door in open position.

Fig. 2a is a section on the line 2a-2a of Fig. 2.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the door in its open position.

Fig. 5` isa section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3, parts being broken away.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view showing in full serve to counterbalance the door while moving proved counterbalancing means of relatively the hinges coincide, with the L14 for guide rolls 15. The rolls 15 roll on the Fig. 'l is a fragmentary view, substantially lon 30 the `line 7-7` of Fig. 4, showing in full lines the position of the spring and its guide when the door is in open position and in dotted lines the positions these parts assume when the door, in its opening movement, slides to its abnormal open position and is cushioned.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view showing the connection between the spring and door panel.

Fig. 8a is a section on the line Sri-8a of Fig. 8.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing 7@ a different embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 10 is a side view substantially on the 1ine`10-10 of Fig. 9 l

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary section on the line 11-11 of Fig. 9, enlarged. '5gg Fig. 12 is a fragmentary plan View of parts shown in Figs. 9 and l0. l

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary front elevation, simi-y lar to Fig. l, but showing another embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 14 is a side view substantially on the line 141-14 of Fig. 13.

In the drawings, A indicates a building, such as a garage or warehouse having adoorway B, delined` by the' sides b and a sill b. The parts just 35 referred to are shown conventionally.

1 indicates as an entirety a door comprising. a plurality of sections 2, 3, 1i, 5, 6 and 7. Where the upper sill b o1 the opening B is relatively close to the ceiling C, thereby providing but little head @0 room for the door 1 and the horizontal portion of i-ts guides 8, the uppermost panel 7 is not utilized for closing the doorway, for which reason it may be of the false type and consist of portions wide enough to support knuckles 9, for its guide rolls l0 and muckles 11 for intermediate guide rolls 12.

Each door panel is hinged to an adjacent panel by fa plurality of hinges 13. The pivot pins for meeting edges lie--` tween adjacent panels. The outer hinges are preferably arranged adjacent the opposite ends of the door panels, and the pivots therefor are extended laterally beyond these ends to form shafts guides 8 whichvcomprise aligned vertical porl tions 8a, aligned horizontal portions 8b extendin g inwardly away from the door opening and an intermediate portianv 8c connecting the portions l 8 a, 8b, toA form continuous guide-ways, whereby 110 the door 1 may slide from its closed position (Figs. 1 and 3) to its open position (Figs. 2 and 4) and in the reverse directionin a ready manner.

The guides 8 are suitably connected to and rigidly supported relative to the walls A and ceiling C, the connecting means including (a) depending brackets 16, to which the outer ends of the guide portion 8b are secured, connected to a cross member 17 and braced by links 18; and (b) gussets 19 fixed to angles 20. The cross member 17 and angles 20 are secured to the ceiling and walls of the building in any desired manner.

The construction of the door panels 2,3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, the hinges 13 therefor, guide roll mountings 14 and guides 8 are preferably similar to corresponding parts shown in and formingthe 'ly arrest the door, when opened, should the force (either manual or power) applied to the door carry it to an abnormal open `position (be- Iyond its normal open position) and also, following the stopping of the door, move it in the reverse-closing-direction to its normal open position. The guide portion 8b is made long enough to provide for the stopping of the door in opposition to the counter-balancing means.

Where the construction of the building is such that the counter-balancing means may be connected to the central portion of the door, I may yuse but one spring 22; but by preference I use two springs 22' connected to the lower panel adjacent its opposite ends (see Fig. 1) to insure uniform upward pull on all portions of the door transversely and relieve the guides of all lateral stresses. As the springs and their guide means and connections are similar, I will refer to one only. Each spring 22 is relatively long and of the coil type, ordinarily termed an extension spring,its upper or inner end being xed to some stationary element, as shown at 23, and its lower or outer end being connected to one of the lower Y door panels, preferably the lowermost panel 2,

as shown at 24. Intermediate its ends and preferably at a point substantially midway the ends of the curved guide portion 8c, the spring 22 engages a guide 25, relative to which the spring moves when expanding and retracting.- To facilitate such relative movement, the guide consists of a sheave or pulley. The sheave o r pulley 25 is movably mounted so as to accommodate itself to the position of the outer portion of the spring in all positions of the door 1.

In one form of construction, as shown in Figs. 1 to 8a, each spring 22 extends from the lower door panel 2 to the adjacent guide sheave 25 and from the latter inwardly away from the door` opening B substantially parallel to one of the guide portions 8b, the upper or inner end of the spring being xed to the hook 23, which is carried by the adjacent bracket 16. In connecting the spring to the hook 23, I prefer to use a section of chain 26 any of the links of which may engage the hook to increase or decrease the effective length of the spring and thus adjust the tension thereof as conditions may require. The connection 24 for the lower or outer end of the spring 22 may comprise a base 27, a compound angle 28, bolts 29, 29a, which secure the base and angle to-the panel 2 and a section of sheet metal 29:1: having an intermediate tubular portion surrounding and rotatably tting a bushing 29o on the bolt 29a and parallel ends 30 formed with aligned openings 3l; the hooked end 22' of the spring being passed through the openings 3l.

In the form of construction shown in Figs. 1 to 8a', inclusive, each guide pulley 25 rotates on a 'shaft carried by arms 32. The inner ends of these arm's swing about a shaft 33 supported by the legs 34 of a U-member or yoke 35.

The inner end portion of the U-member 35 r'otates on a shaft 36 carried by the adjacent plate 19, this shaft being at right angles to the shaft 33. By preference, the shaft 36 is provided by stamping out a portion of the plate 19 (see open- .'ing 19'4 in Fig. 3) and curving such portion as shown in Figs. l, 2 and 6. By providing a mounting for each pulley having shafts arranged at right angles to each other, the pulley isfree to Swingin any direction, for a purpose about to be described.

In the lowered or closed position of the door, the pulleys 25 occupy the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 3, also in dotted lines at :c in Fig. 6.

In the normal open position of the door, the pulleys 25 occupy the positions shown in Figs. 2, 4, 6 and 7, with the panel 2 raised to a level with or slightly` above the horizontal sill b defining the doorway B. In operating the door 1 to this open position, provision is made for ,it to slide inwardly on the guide portions 8b, 8c past its normal open position, and toyieldingly arrest or stop the door and also to return it to its normal open position, such arresting operation being effected by the s'ame spring or springs that counterbalance the door. The door l, when opened, will move beyond its normal open position a distance dependent upon the force applied, for example to the position m shown in dotted lines in Figs. 6 and 7 and carry with it the outer end of the springs 22 and pulleys 25, as shown in dotted lines at in these last referred to views.

When the door is moved to this abnormal position, the outer endportion of the spring Wraps partially around the pulley (see Fig. 7) and the portion beyond the pulley is expanded or put under tension, the effect of which is to first yieldingly stop the door and then reverse its direction of movement to return it to its normal open position. When the door is operated in this manner, the pivotal mountings for the pulleys 25 permit them to swing upwardly and also inwardly, as shown in the dotted linel positions :r in Figs. 6 and 7.

In the embodiment or arrangement shown in Figs. 9, 10 and 11, each spring 22a of the counterbalancing means extends from the adjacent guide pulley 25a laterally (with respect to the planes of the guides 8) toward the opposite pulley 25a substantially horizontally, its inner end being preferably fixed toa stationary connection 23a in the manner already set forth; each hook 23a may be mounted in the front wall above the doorwayB. The connections 23a are arranged so that the horizontal portions of the springs are disposed one above the other (see Figs. 9 and 12). The outer en'd of each spring is connected to a bracket 39 which is suitably secured to the lower panel and preferably extends laterally beyond the adjacent side edge of the latter. The base portion of each bracket may serve as a support for the adjacent. guide-roller. The arm 39a of the bracket is provided on its outer end portion with a shaft 40 having .shoulders 41 (see Fig. 11) between which a member 29 similar to the member 29 (already described) is mounted, the spring 22a being connected similarly to the member 29.

Each pulley 25a is rotatably mounted between a pair of arms 32a pivotally mounted on a shaft 33a, which in turn is supported in lugs carried by a collar 34a. The collar 34a loosely ts a shaft 37 suitably fixed to a bracket 38. 'I'he bracket 38 is preferably suitably secured to the adjacent angle 20. In the form of construction above described t will be seen that the shafts 33a and 3'7 are disposed at right angles to'each, so that the pulley may 'swing in the plane of the adjacent spring 22a, or laterally with respect to such plane, this latter movement resulting when the door 1 is opened and .moved first to its abnormal open position y (indicated by the dotted line position of the spring and pulley) and then to its normal open position (indicated by the dotted line position y as shown in Fig. 10.

In the embodiment or arrangement shown in Figs. 13 and 14, each spring 22h of the counterbalancing means extends from the adjacent guide pulley 25h downwardly, parallel to the vertical portion of the adjacent guide 8, such lower end being fixed to a suitable hook 23h, by means of a chain similarly to that already referred to. 'I'he outer end of each spring is preferably connected to the lower panel similarly to that above described in connection with Figs. 10, ll and 12.

Where the two legs of each spring 22b are disposed at right angles to the plane of the door, as shown in Figs. 13 and 14, the adjacent pulley 25h swings about a shaft 42, mounted in a bracket 43, which is secured to the adjacent angle 20, so that the pulley may accommodate itself to the positions of the door when moved to its abnormal 'open position 2 and normal open position 2' (see dotted lines in Fig. 14). Y i

It will be noted that in my construction I eliminate the use of cables, ropes or chains and also reeving elements for raising-and lowering the door either in connection with springs or weights or otherwise, or chains and reeving elements therefor, for raising and lowering the door.

and also such parts and devices when associated with counterbalancing means, employing either springs or weights. In my construction I use coiled springs which run over pulleys or sheaves and serve the double purpose of a counter-balance and a flexible member, such as a cable, connected to the door, thereby simplifying the construction and providing a spring which is long enough to insure sufcient counterbalancing effect while permitting easy sliding .movement of the door from either position to its other position. By using relatively long springs, adjustment thereof may be accurately made to counter-balance the door and less strain is imparted to the springs as the guide rolls for the panels successively traverse the curved guide portion 8c.y

To those skilled inthe art to whichmy invention relates many changes in construction and widely diiering embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. My disclosures and the description herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

What I claim is:

1. A door for closing an opening comprising hinged together panels, aligned guides extending vvertically in operative relationto the opening and then at an angle, said door having elements that engage the guides to slidably support the panels thereon for movement from a position which closes the opening to a position which is substantially above the opening, a coiled spring for counterbalancing said door or portions thereof when in the vertical position, one end of said spring being connected to one of the door panels and its opposite end being fixed, and guide means over which said coil spring runs when expanding in the closing movement of the door and in contracting in the opening movement of the door.

2. A door for closing4 an-opening or doorway comprising pivotally connected panels, aligned guides extending vertically in operative relation to,.the doorway and then at an angle, said door having.` elements that engage the guides to slidably support the panels thereon for movement from a position which closes the doorway to a position which opens the doorway, a coiled spring for counterbalancing said door or portions thereof when in the vertical position, one end of said spring being connected to one of the door panels and itsopposite end being fixed, andguide means arranged intermediate the ends of said guides and over which said coiled spring runs in expanding in the closing movement of said door and incontracting in the opening movement of said door.

3. A door for closing an opening or doorway comprising pivotally connected panels, aligned guides extending vertically in operative relation to the doorway and then at an angle,`said door having elements that engage the guides to slidably support the panels thereon for movement from a position which closes the doorway to a position which opens the doorway, a coiled spring for counterbalancing said door or portions thereof when in the vertical position, one end of said spring being connected to one of the door panels and its opposite end being fixed; and a swingably mounted pulley arranged intermediate the ends of said guides and over which said coiled` spring runs in expanding in the closing movement of said door and in contracting in the open- 'ing movement of said door.

4. A door for closing a doorway comprising a plurality of pivotally connected panels, aligned guides having portions extending vertically in operative relation to the doorway, portions extending at an angle to said vertical portions and intermediate curved portions connecting said other portions together, a guide pulley arranged adjacent one of said curved portions, a coiled spring having its outer end connected to one of the lower panels and its opposite endconnected to a stationary element, and arranged to counterbalance said door or portions thereof when in the vertical position, the intermediate portion of said spring being arranged to run on said pulley while expanding in the closing movement of said door or contracting in the opening movement of said door, and aswingable mounting for said pulley.

5. A door for closing an opening or doorway comprising pivotally connected panels, aligned guides extending vertically in operative relation to the doorway and then at an angle, said door having elements that engage the guides to slidably support the panels thereon for movement from a position which closes the doorway to a position which opens the doorway, a swingabljl mounted pulley arranged intermediate the ends of said guides, and a coiled spring for counterbalancing said door, one end of said spring being connected to one of the lower panels and running over said pulley and extending therefrom substantially parallel to the angular portion of said guides to 'a stationary connection.

6. A door for closing an opening or doorway comprising pivotally connected panels, aligned guides extending vertically in operative relation to the doorway and then at an angle, said door having elements that engage the guides to slidably support the panels thereon for movement from a position which closes the doorway to a position which opens the doorway, a swingably mounted pulley arranged intermediate the ends of said guides, and a. coiled spring for counterbalancing said door, one end of said spring being` connected to one of the lower panels and running over said pulley and extending therefrom downwardly substantially parallel to the vertical portion of said guides toa stationary connection.

7. A door for closing an opening or doorway comprising pivotally connected panels, aligned guides extending vertically in operative relation to the doorway and then at an angle, said door having elements that engage the guides to slidably support the panels thereon for movement from a position which closes the doorway to a position vwhich opens the doorway, a swingably mounted pulley arranged intermediate the ends of said guides, and a coiled spring for counterbalancing said door, one end of said spring being connected to one of the lower panels and running over said pulley and extending therefrom laterally substantially at right angles to said guides to a stationary connection.

8. A door for closing an opening or doorway comprising pivotally connected panels, aligned guides extending vertically in operative relation to the doorway and then at an angle, said door having elements that engage the guides to slidably support the panels thereon for movement from a position which closes the doorway to a position which opens the doorway, a pulley arranged intermediate the ends of said guides, and a coiled spring for counterbalancing said door, one end of said spring being connected to one of the lower panels and running over said pulley and extending therefrom to a xed connection, said spring serving to yieldingly arrest said door in its opening movement.

9. A door -for closing an opening or doorway comprising pivotally connected panels, aligned guides extending vertically in operative relation to the doorway and then at an angle, said door having elements that engage the guides to slidably support the panels thereon for movement from a position which closes the doorway to a positon which opens the doorway, a coiled spring for counterbalancing said door or portions thereof when in the vertical position, one end of said spring being connected to one of the lower door panels and its opposite end being fixed, and a swingably mounted pulley arranged intermediate the ends of said guides and over which said coiled spring runs in expanding in the closing movement of said door and in contracting in the opening movement of said door, said pulley being arranged at a point outwardly of the connection of the spring to one of said door -panels when the door is moved to its extreme open position, whereby said spring yieldingly arrests'thedoor.

10. A door for closing anvopening or doorway comprising pivotally connected panels, aligned guides extending vertically in operative relation to the doorway and then at an angle, said door having elements that engage the' guides to slidably support the panels thereon for movement from a position which closes the doorway to a position which opens the doorway, a pair of extension coiled springs for counterbalancing said door, said springs having corresponding ends fixed and their opposite ends connected to opposite side portions of the door, and means for supporting the intermediate portion of each spring while permitting expansion thereof during closing movement of the door and contraction thereof during opening movement of the door.

11. In a counterbalancing mechanism, the combination with guideways having aligned vertical portons and angularlyr disposed portions, a mem-l ber comprising articulatable sections fitting said ways and movable from end to end thereof, a

coiled spring having one end fixed at a point adjacent the outer end of saidlast mentioned guideway portions and it`s opposite end fixed to the remote end of said member, and a guide sheave for said sprng disposed intermediate vthe opposite ends of said ways for supporting said spring during expansion and retraction thereof.

12. A door for closing an openingor doorway comprising a series of pivotally connected panels, aligned guides having vertical portions and laterally extending portions, said door having elements slidably supporting the door in said guides for movement from end to end thereof and the laterally extending portions of the guides being of sufficient length to permit the door to move in its opening movement beyond a predetermined open position, a coiled spring for counterbalanc- :'ng said door or portions thereof when in the vertical portions of said guides, said spring having one end xed and its opposite end connected to the lowermost panel of the door, and a guide member engaging the intermediate portion of said spring and permitting' expansion and contract-'on thereof during movements of the door, said guide member being mounted between the limits of movement of the door in either direction and so arranged relative tothe connection of said spring with the door that said spring is put under tension when the door is moved beyond its predetermined open position.

HOWARD I. MORRIS. 

